Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
Category: Recommended Reads
In 1967, Susanna Kaysen was diagnosed with "borderline personality disorder" and sent to McLean's in Cambridge at the age of eighteen. She stayed there for nearly two years, and in short, non-chronological vignettes describes her life there and shortly after being released.
My sister, a psych major, recommended this book to me awhile back when I asked various members of my family for book recommendations. Kaysen brings up questions of sanity that sometimes reminded me of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - how do we know where the "border" is between sane and insane, especially when those definitions change over time? The disjointed narrative suited her account, but made it kind of hard for me to follow what was going on. 4 stars.
Showing posts with label Category - Recommended. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Category - Recommended. Show all posts
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (65/81)
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Category: Recommended Reads
Lia's former best friend Cassie has died of unknown causes. Though the girls haven't spoken in months, Cassie called 33 times before she died - and Lia didn't pick up. But Lia can cope. She's strong. After all, she's managed to control her calorie intake and her weight for a really long time now.
Welcome to the world of an anorexic, as eighteen-year-old Lia tells you exactly what's going on in her head. "Enjoy" is definitely the wrong word for this book, but it's powerful and heart-wrenching and I couldn't put it down. Lia's first-person narration makes her story all the more immediate; as a reader, I felt for her while still being able to see her emotional and psychological downward spiral. Highly recommended. 5 stars.
Category: Recommended Reads
Lia's former best friend Cassie has died of unknown causes. Though the girls haven't spoken in months, Cassie called 33 times before she died - and Lia didn't pick up. But Lia can cope. She's strong. After all, she's managed to control her calorie intake and her weight for a really long time now.
Welcome to the world of an anorexic, as eighteen-year-old Lia tells you exactly what's going on in her head. "Enjoy" is definitely the wrong word for this book, but it's powerful and heart-wrenching and I couldn't put it down. Lia's first-person narration makes her story all the more immediate; as a reader, I felt for her while still being able to see her emotional and psychological downward spiral. Highly recommended. 5 stars.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
People of the Book (61/81)
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Category: Recommended Reads
When the Sarajevo Haggadah is discovered, saved in a bank vault by the museum curator, Hanna Heath has the opportunity of a lifetime to conserve this beautiful book. The haggadah has survived against the odds, and Hanna's research gives her tantalizing glimpses of where the book has been while readers learn even more about the book's true history and the "people of the book" who impacted (and were impacted by) the amazing artifact.
This well-crafted story is the imagined history of a true artifact, a Jewish haggadah from medieval times with lovely illuminations. In an afterward, Brooks quickly writes about what is and isn't known about its history, and it's a fascinating exploration of what might have been. I love that the book itself is essentially a character and the details about conservation work. 4.5 stars.
Category: Recommended Reads
When the Sarajevo Haggadah is discovered, saved in a bank vault by the museum curator, Hanna Heath has the opportunity of a lifetime to conserve this beautiful book. The haggadah has survived against the odds, and Hanna's research gives her tantalizing glimpses of where the book has been while readers learn even more about the book's true history and the "people of the book" who impacted (and were impacted by) the amazing artifact.
This well-crafted story is the imagined history of a true artifact, a Jewish haggadah from medieval times with lovely illuminations. In an afterward, Brooks quickly writes about what is and isn't known about its history, and it's a fascinating exploration of what might have been. I love that the book itself is essentially a character and the details about conservation work. 4.5 stars.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher (45/81)
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
999 Challenge Category: Recommended Reads
Amara, ready for her graduation exercise as a Cursor, travels disguised as a slave, hoping to confirm rumors of a renegade legion. Tavi is an orphan with no fury in a land where furycrafting (using a being called a "fury" to communicate, heal, fight, etc.) is as common as breathing, but when he makes a discovery when trying to recover his sheep, the safety of his people suddenly rests on his shoulders.
A character-rich, in-depth world is introduced in this first book of the Codex Alera series. There's a lot of political maneuvering, and the point of view changes (primarily between Amara and Tavi) mean that the reader knows more than the individual characters. After about sixty pages, the pace quickly builds and never lets up. 4.5 stars.
Cross-posted at Born Reader.
999 Challenge Category: Recommended Reads
Amara, ready for her graduation exercise as a Cursor, travels disguised as a slave, hoping to confirm rumors of a renegade legion. Tavi is an orphan with no fury in a land where furycrafting (using a being called a "fury" to communicate, heal, fight, etc.) is as common as breathing, but when he makes a discovery when trying to recover his sheep, the safety of his people suddenly rests on his shoulders.
A character-rich, in-depth world is introduced in this first book of the Codex Alera series. There's a lot of political maneuvering, and the point of view changes (primarily between Amara and Tavi) mean that the reader knows more than the individual characters. After about sixty pages, the pace quickly builds and never lets up. 4.5 stars.
Cross-posted at Born Reader.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde (31/81)
Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
Category: Recommended
Thursday Next has been the Bellman for a couple of years now, but she's ready to go back to the real world. Along with Hamlet (who's concerned about the outside world's perception of him as a ditherer), Thursday returns determined to get her husband Landen uneradicated and to send Yorrick Kaine back to the Bookworld where he belongs.
For months, my mom has been begging me to read this book, the fourth in a series that I first recommended to her. So she was pleased when I finally got to it, laughed at loud on several occasions, and promptly finished it only to revisit some favorite parts with her. I recommend reading Hamlet first, as it will make the bookish humor that much more enjoyable. 4.5 stars.
Cross-posted at Born Reader.
Category: Recommended
Thursday Next has been the Bellman for a couple of years now, but she's ready to go back to the real world. Along with Hamlet (who's concerned about the outside world's perception of him as a ditherer), Thursday returns determined to get her husband Landen uneradicated and to send Yorrick Kaine back to the Bookworld where he belongs.
For months, my mom has been begging me to read this book, the fourth in a series that I first recommended to her. So she was pleased when I finally got to it, laughed at loud on several occasions, and promptly finished it only to revisit some favorite parts with her. I recommend reading Hamlet first, as it will make the bookish humor that much more enjoyable. 4.5 stars.
Cross-posted at Born Reader.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Shack by William P. Young (2/81)
The Shack by William P. Young
Category: Recommended Reads or New to Me Authors
Mack hasn't been the same ever since his youngest daughter, Missy, was kidnapped during a camping trip he took with three of his children. Her body was never found but the trail ended at a shack in the woods. Now he's received a note asking him to go to this shack, and it's signed "Papa." As this is his wife's favorite name for God, this seems like some sort of cruel joke. But when Mack decides to take the trip, his life will never be the same.
At first I wasn't sure if I liked the book or not. The book is a very emotional, internal read. Not much happens in terms of plot; we're mostly along with Mack during a series of conversations and interactions. Some of the conversations seemed a little transparent and heavy-handed at times, a little bit of God-explains-it-all while Mack listens or reacts. But to my surprise, it resonated for a long time afterward. I would recommend it for those who enjoy inspirational fiction. 4 stars.
Cross posted at Born Reader.
Category: Recommended Reads or New to Me Authors
Mack hasn't been the same ever since his youngest daughter, Missy, was kidnapped during a camping trip he took with three of his children. Her body was never found but the trail ended at a shack in the woods. Now he's received a note asking him to go to this shack, and it's signed "Papa." As this is his wife's favorite name for God, this seems like some sort of cruel joke. But when Mack decides to take the trip, his life will never be the same.
At first I wasn't sure if I liked the book or not. The book is a very emotional, internal read. Not much happens in terms of plot; we're mostly along with Mack during a series of conversations and interactions. Some of the conversations seemed a little transparent and heavy-handed at times, a little bit of God-explains-it-all while Mack listens or reacts. But to my surprise, it resonated for a long time afterward. I would recommend it for those who enjoy inspirational fiction. 4 stars.
Cross posted at Born Reader.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde (1/81)
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
Category: Recommendations or Award Winners
This is the second book in the Thursday Next series, which really should be read in order. I'll warn you now not to read this if you haven't read The Eyre Affair, because it will inevitably have spoilers for the first book.
Lost in a Good Book starts soon after the The Eyre Affair ends. Thursday is being inundated with requests for appearances on TV shows (she's even asked to create a workout video) after her adventures in the pages of Jane Eyre. The Goliath Corporation is none too happy with her treatment of Jack Schitt; meanwhile, Cordelia Flakk is chasing Thursday down for more PR appearances, and someone seems intent on killing Thursday by coincidence (decrease in entropy occurs every once in awhile, but I'll let Mycroft explain how that happens).
It's hard to pin down the Thursday Next series by genre. It's sort-of science fiction, because it involves time travel and an alternate universe. It's definitely humor, running the gamut from roll-your-eyes puns (Schitt, his half-brother Schitt-Hawse, and various other character names) and literary references to classics that might go over your head even if you've read the books. But to attempt to pin it down doesn't do it justice - you really just have to be in the mood for zany good fun and literary puns. 5 stars.
Cross-posted at Born Reader.
Category: Recommendations or Award Winners
This is the second book in the Thursday Next series, which really should be read in order. I'll warn you now not to read this if you haven't read The Eyre Affair, because it will inevitably have spoilers for the first book.
Lost in a Good Book starts soon after the The Eyre Affair ends. Thursday is being inundated with requests for appearances on TV shows (she's even asked to create a workout video) after her adventures in the pages of Jane Eyre. The Goliath Corporation is none too happy with her treatment of Jack Schitt; meanwhile, Cordelia Flakk is chasing Thursday down for more PR appearances, and someone seems intent on killing Thursday by coincidence (decrease in entropy occurs every once in awhile, but I'll let Mycroft explain how that happens).
It's hard to pin down the Thursday Next series by genre. It's sort-of science fiction, because it involves time travel and an alternate universe. It's definitely humor, running the gamut from roll-your-eyes puns (Schitt, his half-brother Schitt-Hawse, and various other character names) and literary references to classics that might go over your head even if you've read the books. But to attempt to pin it down doesn't do it justice - you really just have to be in the mood for zany good fun and literary puns. 5 stars.
Cross-posted at Born Reader.
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